Firearm.



.No. 896,997. 'PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908.

I A. E. LARD.

FIREARM.

APPLIQATION Hun JAN. 15, 1902.

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APPLICATION nun JAN.1'5, 1902. 2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLAN EDWARD LARD, OF ST.,JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

FIREARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 1908.-

Application filed January 15,. 1902. Serial No. 89,814.

drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a gun with side locks whichmay be removed by hand without the use of a tool and without thenecessity of removing the usual screw or screws which hold the locks inplace in the frame and also to so attach and construct the lock-plates,the trigger plate and trigger guard that no screws or pin heads will bevisible on the outer face of the parts to mar the appearance and finishof the arm.

As shown in the accompanying drawings:Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe parts at the junction of the barrel and stock of a double-barrelsingle trigger shot gun, showing means for holding the lock-plate frombeing forced or jarred rearwardly from the action of the recoil orhammer. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the lock-plates and means forconnecting the same, together with the parts of the breech-frame andstock immediately adjacent to the said lock-plate.

Fig. 3 is a view of the rear ends of the lock-plates and the connectinglugs, showing the latter separated from each other Fig. 4 is a sectionalview of the same parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional viewshowing a modified form of spring for actuating the bolt or latch of thelock-plate connecting devices. Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on line5-5 of Fig. 2, showing in section the interlocking parts by which thelockplates are connected with each other, together with the means fordisconnecting the same in removing the lock-plates. Fig. 6 is anenlarged detail section, taken on line 66 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is anenlarged detail section showing the spring for lifting the verticallymovable pin forming part of the disconnecting device shown in Fig. 5.Fig. 8 is a side view of the'trigger plate, the trigger guard and rearend of the tang, showing the connection of'the trigger-guard with thetang, and also the connection of the forward end of the trigger platewith the breech frame.

Fig. 9 is a detail face view of the end of the trigger plate whichengages the breech frame. Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation like Fig.1,- showing a modified construction in the means for holding thelock-plate from rear ward movement. Fig. 11 is a view like Fig. 10showing still another means for holding the lock-plate from rearwardmovement. Fig. 12 is a plan view of the lock-plate shown in Fig. 11,with adjacent parts of the breech frame and stock in section. Fig. 13isa detail section through the rear parts of the trigger plate and triggerguard, showing a modified construction in means for attaching thetrigger guard.

As shown in the said drawings, A indicates the breech frame, B thestock, and C C the lock-plates. The looks or hammer actuating devices,not shown in the drawings, are mounted on the inner faces of saidlockplates in the usual manner.

In carrying out my invention the several screws and studs or pins onwhich the parts of said locks are mounted, extend only partially throughthe thickness of said lock-' plates, so that the outer surfaces of thelatter will be perfectly smooth and will be unmarred by the ends of saidscrews, studs or pins.

When the hammer falls in firing the gun, the tendency is to force thelock-plate backwardly from the breech-frame. To overcome this tendency Iprovide on the lockplate an enlarged end D preferably of circuar form,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which fits within a corresponding recessformed in the side of the breech frame; the outer face of the lock-platebeing made flush with the side ofthe frame, in theusual manner. Theforward end of the lock-plate is prevented from coming out of its recessin the frame by having a portion of its forward end extended to form alip d which fits beneath an overhanging ledge a on the frame, as clearlyseen in Fig. 2.

The rear ends of the lock-plates are held in position by means of twolugs E E which eX- tend inwardly from the rear ends of said plates andare adapted to meet each other at a point between the plates and arethere provided with interlocking devices by which they are interlockedor held together. Said interlocking devices are so constructed that whenthe forward ends of the lock-plates are engaged with the breech frameand the rear place by aset-screw f, Fig. 6, which is inends thereof arethen inserted and pressed in place by the hand, said lugs will become interloclred with each other, as shown in Fig. 2. The devices illustratedfor connecting the lugs are made as follows: One of the lugs E in thedrawings is provided with a spring latch or bolt F, as seen in Figs. 3,4, 5 and 6, and the lug E of the opposite lock-plate is provided with. apart or projection c which overlaps the end of the lug and is providedwith an aperture 6 to receive the latch. The bolt F may be thrown orforced outwardly by a coiled springf placed. between the inner end ofthe bolt and bottom of the guide recess in the lug E, in which itslides, as shown in Fig. 4, or by a flat spring f attached. to the saidlug E and pressing 011 the end of the bolt which extends through saidlug, as shown in Fig. 4 The belt is held in its sorted through the lugand the inner end of which enters a groove in the bolt. The outer or endface of the bolt F is inclined or beveled so that said bolt will bepushed inwardly against its actuating spring by the pressure of the part0 when the two lugs are brought together.

Means for unlatching the lugs is shown in Figs. 5 and 7. The devices forthis purpose illustrated consist of a rod H passing through the tang andlocated at its inner end in position for contact with the outer end ofthe latch or bolt F, which outer end of the bolt is directed upwardly ortowards the tang. Said rod His lifted or thrown outwardly by a spiralspring h, which is seated. in a recess in the tang beneath a head hi onthe rod. The upward movement of the rod may be limited by a stop pin 7L2inserted through the rod, (or any other suitable stOP,) as shown in Fig.7. The upper end of the rod is preferably located directly under the endof the top lever I of the arm, said top lever being recessed on itsunder surface to receive the head 7L as shown in Fig. 5. The aperture 0of the lug E is provided with a gate or opening 6 located in line withthe rod H, so that the rod will not interfere with the movement of thelug E in the latching and unlatching operation. When it is desired toremove the lock-plates, the top lever is pushed to the right in theusual manner and the rod H is then pressed down. This forces downwardlythe bolt F until the same is free from the aperture 6 and thus unlatchesor uncouples the lugs and releases the locleplates. Each lock-plate maythen be permitted to drop out of its seat, when the gun is turned inposition to bring it face downward. Manifestly the disconnecting orreleasing rod H must be held down while the first lock-plate is beingremoved; it being readily understood that when the lock-plate having thelug E is taken out, the releasing rod H will pass through the gate 6 andwill in no we y interfere with the 1 lock-plates are then pressedtogether until the meeting ends of the lugs thereon are latched orinterlocked.

Instead of employing the enlarged circular head I) to hold thelock-plate from. back ward movement, I may employ a rearwardly facingstep or shoulder D such as is shown in Fig. 10. Such shoulder on thelock-plate is adapted to engage a corresponding, forwardly facinglocking shoulder on the upper part of the breech frame. Said shoulder Dis shown in Fig. 10 as used in connection with the enlarged head D butit may be used separately therefrom, if desired. I11 Figs. 1.1 and 12 Ihave shown still another means for interlocking the lockplate with thebreech frame, the same consisting of an inwardly projecting stud J whichprojects in wardly from the plate and fits within a re cess in thebreech frame; said stud being used in connection with a lip orprojection (Z which enters beneath a ledge a on the plate, as clearlyshown in Fig. 12.

To avoid the presence of visible screw heads in attaching the triggerplate to the frame, I provide said trigger plate with an enlarged head Kwhich fits within a correspondingly shaped recess in the bottom of thebreech-frame and has a lip 7c which fits beneath an overhanging ledge(L2 on the frame, as clearly seen in Figs. 8 and. 9. As an improvedmeans for holding the trigger guard Lin place without the use of anyvisible screw-heads, I screw the forward end of said trigger guard tothe trigger plate in the usual manner and, on the rear end of saidguard, I provide a solid lug Z, which lug preferably passes through anopening in the trigger plate, as shown in Fig. 8, and is engaged by thelower end of the screw M which passes from above through the tang and,by screwthreaded engagement of its lower end with the lug, acts as abolt to connect the rear end of the trigger guard. with said tang andthereby hold said trigger plate, guard and tang firmly together. Thehead of the screw M will be countersunk in the rear end of the tang andlocated in such position that it will be covered and concealed by theusual safety slide N, which is located on the rear end of the tang.

It is not, however, necessary that the lug Z should pass through anopening in the trigger plate, as shown. in Fig. 8, as it may enter arecess formed in the lower face of said plate. I have shown in Fig. 13 aconstruction of this kind, in which the said lug Z is made oval orrounding'and the trigger plate is formed or recessed. to receive saidlug.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a breech frame,

of side lock-plates having interlocking ening means for detachablyconnecting said plates with each other.

3. The combination with a breech frame, of side lock-plates providedwith inwardly extending projections, locking means located on saidprojections for securing the said plates in place and manually operabledisconnecting means adapted to act on the locking means fordisconnecting said plates.

4. Side lock-plates having inwardly extending lugs which meet betweenthe plates and are provided with locking means for connecting saidplates with each other and manually operable disconnecting means adaptedto act on said locking means for disconnecting the plates from eachother.

5. The combination with a breech frame, of side lock plates havinginterlocking connection at their forward ends with the breech frame andprovided near their rear ends with inwardly extending projections, andlocking means located on one of said projections for detachably holdingthe said rear ends of the plates from outward movement.

6. The combination with a breech frame, of side lock plates providedwith inwardly extending projections, locking means on one of saidprojections for detachably holding the plates in place, and manuallyoperable disconnecting means for releasing the plates.

7. The combination with parts of the gun which inclose the locks, andside lock-plates provided with inwardly extending projections, oflocking means on one of said projections for detachably holding theplates in place, and a disconnecting rod for operating said lockingmeans, said rod extending to the exterior of the parts which inclose thelocks.

8. The combination with a breech frame, tang, top lever, and sidelock-plates, of locking means for detachably holding the lock plates inplace, and a disconnecting rod for operating said locking means torelease the plates, said rod extending through the tang beneath the toplever.

9. The combination with lock-plates provided with inwardly extendinglugs, of looking means comprising a spring actuated bolt or catch in onelug and a recess in the other lug to receive the same.

10. The combination with lock-plates provided with inwardly extendinglugs, of look ing means comprising a spring actuated bolt or catch inone lug and an aperture in the other lug, and a disconnecting rodarranged to act on the said bolt or latch for releasing the plates.

1 1. 'The combination with lock-plates provided with inwardly extendinglugs, of looking means comprising a spring actuated bolt or catch on onelug and an aperture in the other lug, and a disconnecting rod arrangedto press on the latch or bolt; the lug in which the aperture is formedbeing provided with agate or opening for the passage of the saiddisconnecting ro 12. The combination with a breech-frame and a side lockplate, of means for interlocking the ends of the plate with the frameconsisting of an enlarged recess in the frame provided with a ledge andan enlarged head on the plate provided with a lip adapted to enterbeneath the ledge.

13. The combination with a breech-frame, provided with an enlargedrecess in its lower surface, of a trigger plate provided with anenlarged head adapted to enter the said recess, the recess in thebreech-frame being provided with a ledge and the head on the triggerplate with a lip which enters beneath said led 'e.

Iii testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses, this 11th day of J anuaryWitnesses:

JOHN W. PETERSON, DAVID L. BARTLETT.

